Sorry lunchbox dad readers, because of Easter I am pushing off Fun lunch Monday to Tuesday this week. As hard as I try for some reason I still can't do everything! Tune in Tuesday.

First Lunchbox Dad Video Tutorial!

Hey Lunchbox Dad readers, I finally finished my first video tutorial.  This shows how easy it is to make my Easter Bunny lunch.  It is on my Youtube channel, but I am also posting it here.  Sorry for the quality, I had to use an older video camera at the last minute.

Hopefully this can inspire you parents to make some fun lunches and also know that it doesn't take much time--just steal my ideas and make them your own!

Week 25: The Easter Bunny

Week 25: The Easter Bunny.  I wanted to do an Easter themed lunch this week for my daughter and also give you readers some inspiration for lunches of your own.  I was reminded this week that even if you don't have school age children, these ideas can be great for birthday parties, play dates, and more.  I tried to incorporate bunny and egg themes into this lunch to make it festive.  Have a fun Easter!

CLICK HERE to see the video tutorial for this lunch, see how easy it really is to make!

Ingredients

2 pieces of sourdough or white bread

1 serving peanut butter and jelly

2 raisins

1 dried cranberry

2 baby carrots, cut in half

4 very small pieces of broccoli

1 handful of fresh spinach

6-8 yogurt-covered raisins

8-10 grapes

1 Tbsp. fat-free cream cheese and strawberry cream cheese

3-4 colors of food color markers or regular food coloring

Directions

1. Use cookie cutter to make rabbit shape from two pieces of bread.  Spread peanut butter and jelly on bread and press together to make a sandwich.  This sandwich would also work with cheese and lunch meat.
2. Dip two raisins in cream cheese and place on rabbit face to make eyes.  Repeat with dried cranberry for the nose.  Use a small amount of black food coloring on a toothpick to draw the mouth.  Spread strawberry cream cheese on each ear for decoration.
3. Cover the bottom half of your container with spinach leaves.  Put the rabbit sandwich in the middle of the container with the bottom of the sandwich touching the bottom of the container.
4. Place four baby carrot pieces vertically along the bottom of container on either side of the sandwich.  They should look like they are growing out of the ground.  Put a very small piece of broccoli on top of each carrot for the leaves on top.
5. Cut grapes in half and use them as a background on the upper part of your container.  Use food color to decorate yogurt-covered raisins so they look like Easter eggs.  Scatter them around the sandwich on top of the grapes.  Finish by having fun serving and eating it!

#lbdbento

ECOLunchboxes Coupon Code

Hey Lunchbox Dad readers, the people over at ECOLunchboxes have given you a 15% off coupon code to order any of their products.   Go to www.ecolunchboxes.com.  Enter it at checkout.

Here it is, have fun: LunchDad2.

If you want to see my review of their products check it out HERE.

Week 24: Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Classic style

Week 24: Classic Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  We are in Disneyland this week so I made my daughter a little pre-trip special lunch last week.  I have always liked the "classic" versions of Mickey and Minnie so I decided to make this--plus my daughter loves hard boiled eggs, so it was a win-win!  I also wanted to make it festive like a parade with confetti and bright colors and everything, so I went with that look as well.  It's a little busier than I normally like, but I think it works.

Have a great week and be sure and let me know your ideas for creating a Mickey or Minnie Mouse lunch.  Check us out on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter and make sure to tell your friends!

Ingredients

2 eggs, hard-boiled and peeled

4 large black olives

1 small red apple

4-6 baby carrots

1 handful of fresh or dried fruit

1 slice cheddar cheese

2 romaine lettuce leaves

   Black and red food coloring or food coloring marker

Directions

1. Cut 1/4 inch off the top of 2 hard-boiled eggs.  Place them bottom side up and draw the facial features of Mickey and Minnie as shown in the picture.  Use either food color markers or make black food coloring (equal parts red, yellow and blue food coloring), and use a toothpick to draw facial features.  Repeat with red food coloring for the tongues.  Cut a bow out of cheddar cheese and decorate it using black food coloring.
2. Place romaine lettuce leaves in the bottom of your container.  Put Mickey and Minnie in the middle as shown.  Place 2 black olives above each mouse for their ears.  Use toothpicks to hold them in place if desired.  Set cheddar cheese bow on top of Minnie's ears.
3. Arrange baby carrots beneath the eggs and apple slices above them.  Scatter fresh or dried fruit around the container to give it a festive atmosphere.  Feel free to use whatever you have available that fits.  Be sure and choose foods that your child will enjoy!

#lbdbento

Week 23: Curious George

Week 23: Curious George.  My son and daughter love watching Curious George on PBS Kids.  I have to admit, the show is kind of funny.  Besides Abby liking the show, I thought the combination of bread, bananas, Nutella, and peanut butter (in the monkey sandwich) would make a tasty lunch.  Here is what I did:

Have fun serving and eating your Curious George lunch!

As always, let me know what ingredients you would use that your kids would like.  Remember to like us on Facebook (we almost have 200 likes in 2 weeks, awesome).  Also check us out on Twitter and Pinterest.  Spread the word about Lunchbox Dad and have fun connecting with your kids over lunch!

Ingredients

2 slices whole wheat bread

1 banana sliced

2 Tbsp. Nutella hazelnut spread

2 Tbsp. peanut butter

   Yellow, blue, and red food coloring 

3 grape tomatoes

5 strings of cheese

1 Tbsp. fat-free cream cheese

1 Tbsp. strawberry jam

1 cup fat-free plain yogurt 

1 cup fresh spinach

Directions

1. Slice 2 pieces of whole wheat bread in the shape of a Curious George monkey head.  Using a knife or toothpick, spread Nutella (for the fur) on one piece as shown in the picture.  Spread peanut butter on the other piece of bread and press together (Nutella side up!) to make the sandwich.  
2. Form cream cheese into small circles and place on the face to make the eyes.
3. Cover bottom of container with fresh spinach leaves.  Slice one banana and place pieces on top of spinach.  Slice tomatoes in half and place them on bananas as balloons.  Put strings of cheese under each tomato for the balloon strings.
4. Take separate container and fill with yogurt (I use Greek yogurt).  Carefully place strawberry jam on top of yogurt in a diamond shape.
5. Mix equal parts red, yellow, and blue food coloring to make black.  Use a toothpick to apply the black food coloring to create the details on George’s face and the kite as shown in the picture.

#lbdbento

Week 22: Strawberry Shortcake

Week 22: Strawberry Shortcake.  This week I returned to making girly lunches.  My daughter loves Strawberry Shortcake (the current show, not the one from when we were kids).  The main character looks much different now.  The elements were a little more difficult on this one.  Obviously there is not much too the cartoon character Strawberry Shortcake except, well...Strawberries, so I had to get creative. The lunch itself is fairly simple to put together.

As always  let me know what your child would like in this lunch and remember to like us on Facebook and check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Ingredients

1-2 slices sourdough bread

1 serving peanut butter and strawberry jam

1/4 cup fresh or freeze dried strawberries

2 kiwis, peeled

1/2 cup of fresh spinach

1 Tbsp. fat-free cream cheese

2 Tbsp. low-fat Strawberry 

   cream cheese

1 stick of string cheese

   Green, red, and black food coloring

Directions

1. Cut out Strawberry Shortcake's head and hat out of sourdough bread.  Make sure and cut out a second piece of each if you plan on making a sandwich.  If making a sandwich, spread peanut butter and jam in between the slices and press together.  Cut out a small neck piece from the bread scraps.  
2. Place two triangle spots of cream cheese on the bread for the eyes.  Mix equal parts red, yellow, and blue food coloring to make black.  Use a toothpick to apply the black, red, and green food coloring to the places shown in the picture.
3. Cut strawberries into narrow strips for her hair.  Cut a few pieces into small squares for the hat.  Slice kiwis into long narrow pieces.  Cut a stick of string cheese into tiny cubes.
4. Spread spinach as background in your container.  Place head piece towards bottom of the container, followed by the neck piece below it.  Place hat piece right above the head, pressed up against it. 
5. Arrange strawberry hair pieces around her head and hat as shown in the picture.  Place small strawberry squares on her hat as decoration.  Take 1 kiwi slice and use it as the brim of her hat. Use another small piece for top of hat.  Arrange remaining kiwi slices in a border around the container.  Finish by sprinkling small cubes of cheese around the container as shown.

#lbdbento